The company joined UK business leaders this week at WWF-UK’s Forest Business Forum, exploring how the UK’s wood-based products market can help protect the world’s forests from deforestation.

Chaired by The Prince of Wales, WWF UK’s President, the forum heard a range of views on how the global forest trade could move to a 100% sustainable footing. This supports WWF’s call for all wood-based products to be sourced from legal and sustainable sources by 2020.

As part of WWF-UK’s Forest Campaign, BSW has signed a pledge committing to public accountability in buying timber from sustainable sources, as well as supporting EU moves to close loopholes in current legislation to ensure all timber products are from legal sources.

Martin Gale, Chairman of BSW Timber, represented the company at the forum. He said: “BSW Timber is a pro-active standard bearer for our industry in the ongoing battle against global deforestation.

“All of our products are FSC® certified and we subscribe to the ground-breaking Timber Trade Federation’s responsible purchasing policy which advocates that all timber must come from sustainable and well-managed sources. We are also a proud member of Grown in Britain, a government backed campaign to create a sustainable future for British forests and woodlands.

“We must now make sure that the responsibility message is heard throughout our global supply chain, and we will continue to play a high-profile role in ensuring the highest standards of environmental responsibility across our industry.”

CEO of WWF-UK, David Nussbaum, added: “WWF-UK’s forest campaign challenges business to commit to responsible trade in wood and paper to help end deforestation around the world.

“Businesses that rely on wood, from greetings card manufacturers to makers of furniture or musical instruments, need to step up and make sure they only use materials from sustainable sources. I am delighted that The Prince of Wales has brought his passion and concern for the environment to help highlight this pressing issue.”

Since the launch of the campaign in September 2014, more than 30 influential businesses have publicly pledged to support the campaign and have committed to source all their wood-based products from legal and sustainable sources by 2020. As well as BSW Timber, these include Kingfisher Group (owner of B&Q), James Latham, Boots, Tesco and developers Lend Lease